Keohane Marks 20 Years in MA

Memorial Tree Program

  The Massachusetts Memorial Tree Program is a joint effort of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and the MA Funeral Directors Assn.  

  This program provides communities with annual grants to plant hundreds of shade trees through-

out the Common- wealth which will continue to grow for generations to come as a living memorial.

  For the last 20 years, Keohane Funeral & Cremation Service has made a donation in memory of the loved ones who were served by the Keohane family. Trees are planted to benefit the communities where the deceased resided. A card is sent to all families to advise them about the Memorial Tree Program when the donation is made.

  "It is an honor to participate in this program," said DennisKeohane. "This is a wonderful way to memorialize those who have died while beautifying our communities," added John Keohane.

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Harvest Helpers 

Planning Underway

   In recognition of National Garden Month, Keohane Funeral & Cremation Service in collaboration with Interfaith Social Services, is kicking off their Second Annual Harvest Helpers fruit and vegetables for the needy program.  During the week of May 9th, Keohane Funeral & Cremation Service will be distributing free seedlings to anyone in the community who is willing to grow those plants and then donate the produce to Interfaith's Food Pantry when harvested.   

  
   Last year, the staff of Keohane Funeral & Cremation Service planted and tended a "backyard" garden at their Quincy location to grow vegetables and herbs which were distributed to the Food Pantry. 
  

   "We had a robust harvest last summer of tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, beans, bush cucumbers, herbs, and we are planning even more this year!" said John Keohane, funeral home co-president.   
 

   Rick Doane, executive director of Interfaith Social Services, commented, "Each year our Food Pantry feeds over 16,000 hungry South Shore residents.  The high cost of fruit and vegetables makes it difficult for us to give them the fresh produce that they want and need.  Many of those served are families with young children; they desperately need healthy and nutritious food.  We rely on support from the community to meet these needs.  Once again, Keohane Funeral & Cremation Service  has stepped up to support our efforts by donating vegetables to be grown through the Harvest Helpers Program."    
 

   "Harvest Helpers allows us to help Interfaith Social Services to not only feed people, but to nourish them with healthy, home-grown produce," added John Keohane. "We hope that this will motivate more people to start a backyard garden for themselves and their neighbors." 
   

   Interfaith Social Services calls the Harvest Helpers program "... a sustainable community-based endeavor that uses locally grown food to alleviate the hunger that exists within our community."  For the past two years Interfaith has planted a garden in an alleyway at their office in Quincy Center to show that healthy food can be grown virtually anywhere.

   Interfaith Social Services has been feeding, clothing, and comforting South Shore residents since 1947.  They are a center for local families and individuals in need.    

Here are some ways you can participate in the Keohane

Harvest Helpers Program:  

1) Plant an extra row of vegetables in your backyard garden  for the
Interfaith Social Services' Food Pantry.  Free seedlings can be picked up at Interfaith's office, located at 105 Adams Street, Quincy, from 9:00 am - 3:30 pm May 9th - 13th.

2) Volunteer to help tend the Keohane Harvest Helpers garden or Interfaith Social Services Food Pantry garden.

3) Make a donation to support the Harvest Helpers Food Program at www.interfaithsocialservices.org.
 

Call Rick Doane at 617-773-6203 to volunteer or for more information.

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Spotlight on  

Barbara Foulsham

    Funeral service wasn't her first career... in fact, Barbara Foulsham admits that she wishes she had chosen it sooner in life. She was married to John and already had a family when she decided to attend the New England Institute at Mount Ida to become a funeral director. She started working at Keohane Funeral & Cremation Service in 1997 - apprenticed there and wouldn't think of working anywhere else.

   "We have a great team here at Keohane's and the families I deal with are special. I grew up in Quincy ... went to school here. When you work in the city you grew up in, you know a lot of people. Consequently, I've served families that I've known for years. It can be difficult when those you know die, but working with the family is comforting to them, and also to me."

   Her husband, John, and children James, 26; John, 21; and Samantha, 19, have always supported her decision to go into funeral service. Barbara says she experienced a lot of deaths of friends and family at a young age. She wondered, "Who takes care of these people?" At first she thought she would have to come from a funeral "family" in order to become a funeral director, but she researched the subject and decided to go back to school. "It was quite a feat to juggle school, apprenticeship, and family, but it was well worth it," she says emphatically.

   "What keeps me going, after almost 15 years, is that families often tell me, 'I couldn't have done it without you ... I don't know what I would have done if you weren't there for me.' It is very rewarding to hear that. There are not many careers where people depend on you and tell you how much they appreciate what you do."

   Barbara is very skilled at creating personalized services. She bonds with the families she services quickly so she can discover the special "somethings" about the deceased to make the funeral service as memorable for the family as it can be. "Even the most private and conservative families will share something that is special and dear to them so we can make the funeral service a very personal experience. When someone comes to the visitation who may not have known the person very well and says, 'Wow, I didn't know your Mom did that!' ... then I know the service is meaningful."

   Barbara loves to ski and spend time with her family at their vacation home in Maine. She enjoys traveling and is planning a spring vacation in Aruba with her husband John, daughter Samantha (a freshman at St. Michael's in VT) and a friend. Barbara has a pet coon cat named Moose and is planning to participate with the Keohane team in the Quincy Chamber Fitness Challenge again this year!